This scene is rated Everybody |
Warning: | Mild laguage |
2016-01-02 |
Players: | Lissandra Peggy Natasha Tony Steve |
GMed by | Random Acts of Spongebob |
Title: | After Action Report |
It wasn't bad enough that the Times Square New Year's Eve bash had to be interrupted by fucking sentinels, and on her watch no less. It wasn't bad enough that the damn tin cans put her in a position to have to almost face down Iron Man to defend the fucking thing's so they could round up innocent civilians. The night almost got better when some wizards poofed them off to a mirror world of some kind. She had a chance to blow up a few sentinels without anyone being the wiser. But then Odin showed up and everything went to hell in her mind because apparently she's magic's little bitch, which ended up with her attacking allies and getting a brain full of some alternate parallel Starktech instead of the sentinel tech she was trying to steal.
And then she woke up in a SHIELD medevac unit with the kind of headache that only comes from having a gestalt interrupted, then woke up again a couple hours ago in her own medbay with a message to report to Director Carter as soon as she was mobile. Which is why she's now here. Sitting oh so properly upright in her teched-out wheelchair waiting for the other shoe to drop. Again.
***
It's been a wild ride of a day, which means Peggy isn't actually waiting for Lissandra when she arrives in the Ready Room. Which is also a first. Peggy was ALWAYS the first person at a meeting. It was a power thing, or perhaps an untouchable director thing. Or both. But today, the Director steps into the room exactly two and a half minutes after Lissandra has arrived. She's looking a bit rough around the edges, her normally perfect curls just a hint frayed and her suit jacket is unbuttoned. She's got a tablet in her fingertips and leaves the door open for any other agents who may be trailing her. "Doctor. I am glad to see you are conscious and in one piece. I did not mean to rush your recovery but you understand the importance of this report, yes? Are you feeling up for it?" It's as close as Peggy will get to showing compassion today, but she is trying.
***
Natasha is seated at the back of the ready room with her full black widow gear on and laid out on the table in front of her a selection of entirely Less than Lethal weapons. She's got an extremely sophisticated dart pistol held up that has a round barrel which can load different kinds of darts depending on her desire… she's eyeing the 'weapon' suspiciously while listening to the others in the room speak.
***
Tony is sitting next to Natasha rather watching her fiddle with her gun or whatever she is doing. His feet are propped up and he looks raher bored maybe. A yawn escapes as his arms fold across his chest and his legs cross at the ankles. "we having fun yet?" he whispers lowly towards Natasha not paying much attention as Peggy isn't talking to him ayway.
***
A mans voice can be heard down the hall.. "Wait.. which way do I go? This place is a darn maze." and some light chuckling. The voice comes nearer saying. "Okay you guys say well… We will meet up at 9 tomorow for that practice." as Steve is outside wishing his new two shield friends goodbye he turns around and goes to the door that enters into the debreefing room, and opens it poping his head in. He seems to of been out running, as he seems to have his running gear on with a towl around his neck and drink in hand with the shield the Captain America shield on his back as he smiles at the people inside. "Hello, I hope I got the right place." he speaks up looking in he spots Natasha first, he gives a small wave and steps in to see Peggy which only makes him smile a bit larger. "Agent Carter.. Agent Not Robot" he says trying to keep professional, but teasing Natasha a bit for her act earlier. "You guys really have a nice place here."
***
Lissandra's nerves were certainly not aided by the Avengers at the table. Particularly not one she shot at less than 24 hours ago. But when Director Carter arrives she's almost relieved as it gives her something to focus on, even if that something is unlikely to be flattering to her ego.
"Yes, Director. I'm more or less in one piece. Fortunately the medevac unit was alerted by the Umbra suit's alert and were able to get me out before it inflicted any stress damage to my spine. I've had time to download and coalate the sensor feeds from my drones as well as the reports from my team. What would you like to get more details on?" She holds her breath after speaking, hoping this won't be quite as bad as it could be. There's always hope, yes?
***
"Director Carter, actually. If you could join us, Captain Rogers, you said you wanted to work. Work starts with home work." If Peggy was making a huge deal or overwhelmingly happy about the final recover of Steve Rogers, she was certainly making no show of it. She was the ice queen of business as usual. She nods to Tony and Natasha in respectful greeting. "Thank you for joining us." She clips out smoothly to them both, "Considering the incident of last evening, I think it best that everyone gets the debrief as quickly as possible. I doubt this will be the last of the type." Peggy them comes around to her chair at the head of the table and settles in, perching just on the edge. She hits a button on her tablet so it begins to transcribe the meeting. "…Start from the beginning, if you will. I want a full report from your view, not your computer's views."
***
Natasha had looked over at Tony and given him a half-cocked grin. She pointed her right black gloved hand at the gun and one of the darts partially visible inside its casing. "This can supposedly drop a rhino in less than a second… freeze its muscles solid for over an hour." She quietly told Tony in a near-whisper so as not to be rude to the others in the room. "I'll have fun when I get to teset it on someone." She said to him, holding her grin. When Steve showed up and spoke to her about being a robot, Nat lifted her arms (encased in that black formfitting bodysuit with the shield logos on her shoulders) and made a small robotic mocking motion with her arms. She then lowered her weapon to her lap when Peggy spoke and she looekd to the Director.
***
Tony smirks a bit at Nat as she shows off the gu while giving the specs of it. A look is given towards Ca as he enters, "Well if it isn't my dad's hero in the flesh. At least he isn't a large sparkly ice cube." he says while smirking a look being given to Peggy as he goes silent.
***
Steve looks around and see's Tony not sure who he is, he doesn't look like a shield agent at least… maybe a technician. He nods to 'Director Carter' and takes her hand in his and nods to it. "I am sorry Director please forgive me." letting go of the note he slipped in there as he talked to her. After that he turns and tries to find a seat himself giving a shh motion to Natasha as he is sure she saw the transfer. When he gets to Tony he holds out a hand. "Steve Rogers" he adds quietly with a small smile taking a seat next to him. "Your dad's hero huh… Hope I can live up to that kind of image." he quickly adds before catching a simmular look and falling silent.
***
Lissandra refrains from commenting on how her computer's views really are her views, given the specifics of how it's all tied to her brain. The Director doesn't seem to be in that kind of mood. Instead she nods and gets down to it. She's avoided giving too much attention to the other three present due to the risk of getting sidetracked. "Yes, Director. Up until just before midnight, the night's duty was routine and unexciting. When the sentinels arrived, with no advance notice I would add, I instructed the agents to be ready in case they were needed for crowd control and proceeded to get mounted in my exo-frame. Once I was active and airborn, Iron Man had arrived on scene as had a second unit of similar armor I believe is refered to as Tech Star."
She glances over at Tony as she continues. "I was… obligated due to standing orders to contact Iron Man with a request that he not obstruct the sentinels in their assigned duties." It's plain from the catch in her voice, tightness around her lips and her face going a bit pale just how nauseous those 'duties' of the sentinels make her really feel. She pauses briefly before continuing. "Shortly thereafter someone in the area used what I must presume to have been magic to remove all potential combatants from the area to a kind of shadow version of Times Square. Odin All-Father then arrived and when I refused to defend the sentinels at that time he used his magic to force me to attack those who were opposed to the sentinels." She glances over towards Tony again, "Including Iron Man and Tech Star."
***
The director blinks in a touch of surprise as Steve actually takes her hand like that. No one touches Peggy Carter. But he's not just anyone. She gives him a half awkward smile but doesn't actually bite his head off, which is a surprise to anyone who knows the director. Normally she'd be staring daggers and putting someone in their place for interrupting a briefing like that. "Please… sit, Captain Rogers." Is all she stammers out. Then she looks back to Lissandra, listening to the initial report with narrowed eyes. The anger in her features only deepens as the Sentinels are mentioned. She doesn't bother to hide her feelings about the things. As the others are mentioned, she looks over to Tony, "…Is this how it went down for you? I am tryng to separate what was our reality and what was this other…parallel or shadow reality you were pulled into?"
***
Natasha looked over at Tony when he spoke to Steve and she tilted her head slightly then softly elbowed Tony on the side of his arm. She went on to listen to what Lissandra had to say, but she noted Peggy and Steve's interaction as well as the Director's reaction and she leaned her head over toward Tony and whispered very softly to him. "They might be the most adorable thing I've ever witnessed." She said in an emotionless voice, before straightening again and continuing to listen to Lissandra's report. "Odin was in Times Square?' She questioned, surprised by this. "I guess he likes to party…" She added dryly.
Tony looks at Steve, "Tony Stark.. You knew my father Howard." he says giving him the reality of it. He listens to everything and smirks at Nat when she speaks to him. "So sorry if I don't trust robots that go after mutant kids when I have at least three that live with me. Tech Star is my son so he is off limits." a glare is shot at Lissa and Peggy as well. "Ah yes Odin showed up as well. She seemed to kiss his ancient rear end." he nods towards Lissa.
***
Steve listens, though he raises his hand not use to this enviroment, checking the looks he prob gets he lowers his hand and speaks up. "Two questions… Why did you get a catch in your voice when you mentioned your duties." he looks at her for a moment inquisitively. "Usually on the field when we were questioning people they would do something like that when they were leaving something out… There isn't anything your leaving out is there.." he glances at Peggy for confermation he has the right title.. "Agent?" he pauses and rubs his chin.. "And the all father Odin came to you, the big guy old Norse mythology… came to you and told you to defend the Sentinals… why?" he kinda looks around at the others as he seems confused that not only someone from Norse mythology would just show up, but also why he was wanting to defend these sentinal things. "is this normal?" he then stops and looks at Tony what he said finally sinking in.. "And wait… Your howards kid.." he smiles at Tony.. "Yea the hair… I should of known. Your father was.." he stopes remember what Peggy told him earlier.. "Umm.. maybe this isn't the time for that." and gives him a nervious smile.. "Back to the agent here, we are here on buisness right?" he nods trying to change the subject.
***
"No, what I did was attack two sentinels in spite of him trying to get me to help them." Lissandra scowls slightly at Tony, although the venom isn't really directed at him. "Then when it was clear I didn't care who he was or what he wanted, Odin decided to hit me with magic that scrambled things in my brain and changed what I saw. I attacked what I thought were sentinels, but he had me attacking all the wrong targets." She looks back to Director Carter, "I mean… damn. Ma'am, I know that taking offensive action against sentinels is against orders, but I also know you and I are of the same mind about those things. I couldn't resist taking out my frustrations against them as it seemed we were in a place where such action wouldn't backfire on the agency."
Then Steve asks his questions and she pauses to listen and to maybe give him some perspective. "I react that way to the sentinels because they're the product of bigotry gone psychotic. They have one mission: to hunt mutants, no matter if they've done anything crimiinal or not. It's revolting. And as for Odin All-Father," here she shrugs as Asgard is a bit outside her wheelhouse. "Suffice it to say that the Asgardian gods are not as mythical as you may believe, Captain. They're very real and very much a pain in the ass."
***
It's fortunate for Natasha that Peggy didn't quite hear her whisper, as there would be such WORDS had if she did. But right now, the brunette is more focused upon the woman giving her report and Steve's slightly interrupting, but slightly helpful questions. Her jaw tightens as she hears more mention about the sentinels and Lissandra's comment in her direction about their mutual feelings. It's clear Peggy agrees. If nothing else, the fact that she's letting the hate she feels for them flicker through to the surface proves just how much she despises the thing. She takes a slow breath in and out, clamping that emotion away. "Sentinels, for the newly unfrozen among us, are government built slaughtering machines sent out to take care of all mutants — which the government sees to be a threat. Lissandra, I know your feelings on them. Romanova, Stark… What are your opinions of the Sentinel Program?" There is just something behind Peggy's voice which says she's barely restraining herself from doing something drastic.
***
"They've been capturing some already, Director." Natasha said then and there. "And I want Shield to authorize myself, and a small team, to go and get those mutants back. We have video footag of several people being 'vaporized' by them last night, infact. I don't think they're being murdered either, I think they're being captured and experimented on. And I want to go get them." She knew this wasn't the time for that, but… it was a hot-button issue for Natasha, she hated the idea of shield knowing about this sort of thing and not acting on it.
***
Tony smirks at Cap and then runs a hand through his hair. "They are after mutants and have killed in the past. I won't let them kill or hurt any of them if I can help it. I've hacked the sentinels before and I'll do it again. Make them line dance or something."
***
Steve nods, "I can't say I can agree much with detaining people who haven't done any crimes, but I am kinda new to all this mutants thing." he nods to Tony as well, "Also this Odin fellow doesn't seem to be following any rules but his own, so he doesn't seem much better." he is silent for a moment, "But why… I mean is he just crazy? Does he hate the mutants? I have not read anything in Mythology that woud explain this so I am just wondering if there is something I am missing?" he sighs at all of this.. "Giant robots, Norse Gods… Put me back in the freezer." and grins to himself as he pauses for a moment.. "Listen If you want to act against these things I am with you, but Shield from what you have explained is too important to risk. If shield is gone then our chance to stop Hydra when they return may go with it." he glances at Natasha. "I am not saying we do nothing.. But other then go after the Machines, why don't we go after the masters of those machines.. I mean during the war we took out the depo's because we knew without ammo the soldiers could not fight… This Odin thing worries me though because I can't explain it."
***
Much of the tenseness in Lissandra's shoulders fades away as first Natasha then Tony both give Director Carter their views on the sentinel program and its uses. She takes off the elbow length gloves she always wears as part of her uniform and cracks her knuckles, "If I could get my hands on a sentinel, specifically whatever tech they use to teleport their targets, I could break it down and replicate it." She gives a quick shrug, "As soon as I came out of my gestalt coma, anyway. I'm certain wherever they send the mutants is stored in the system." Yes, she's all in favor of taking direct action, why do you ask?
To Steve she tries to explain a bit better about Odin. "During the battle last night, he put some kind of mystic vision in my head. Something about a giant firebird creature destroying the world and it being the fault of mutants. I didn't really pay too much attention, since the only time the world's come close to burning in my lifetime was when it was Asgard's fault. It's a long explanation better suited for when we're free to drink heavily."
***
As the entire group reflects Peggy's feelings about the matter, the director frowns even deeper. She looks exhausted in this moment, definitely older than the Peggy that Steve knew. She can no longer remain sitting and still, though. She pushes herself up from the chair, beginning a slow circuit of pacing across the hushed, carpeted floor of the conference room. "While SHIELD wishes to retain support of not just the US government, but all world governments, we cannot continue to condone such actions." She looks up to them all, something darker in her eyes, "When Howard Stark and I began this organization, it was because the SSR was being turned on American citizens. We were being forced to investigate our own people for communism — jumping at paranoid shadows on our home soil instead of defending against the real threats — such as HYDRA. So we broke away. Now, histoy is repeating itself. We are being asked to stand by while the very people we protect and defend are threatened."
***
Natasha looked over at Tony on her right when he spoke and she smiled faintly then looked back over to the others. She didn't speak again as they had all covered the basis of everything that needed to be said. She just brought her hands up and folded her arms together over her chest, and remained silent.
***
Tony still has his feet up on a chair and his arms fold across his chest, "Long as you know Im not letting the government robots hurt mutant kids then I am happy." he stands up, "I won't ever sit back and let them do that… And if bbig bad Odin wants to flexes his god muscles I'll stand in his face too. I once fought his son Thor and I'm not scared of his other son Loki either. So big bad daddy can stick his lance where she sun doesn't shine. I won't let him hurt anyone on this planet either. Not like I go to his planet and try to stomp his flowers or grass."
***
Steve shakes his head, at all of them. "When I fought I was fighting for freedom of people you would think after 70 years they would of gotten it down a bit more." he sighs, and stands up. I don't have the knowlege of everything yet, but from what I heard so far it isn't good." he moves towards the door and stops, "Mr. Stark, I would becareful if I were you that over confidence can be your downfall if your not careful, if this Odin fellow has intel we do not it doesn't mean it doesn't exist only we don't know about it. There might be a 'mutant' out there that could fry us all, and we are all so busy fighting ourselves it gets right past us. I don't agree with his methods but he sounds worried about it worried enough to come here and mess with us, and whatever worries a Norse God, or whatever he is, worries me too." he stands next to the door, "By your leave Director." he says as he opens the door. "I am not saying we shouldn't stop the giant robots from zapping people, but maybe we should find what is shaking everything up like this and stop that as well before it makes its move against us.. mutant, robot, whatever it is. If you will excuse me I have some reading to do to catch up, because apperently something is up and I intend to find out what… or who is behind this. Though if you move against the giant robots that are imprisioning people you can count me in.. Good day." and with that he leaves shuting the door behind him as we walks off to find the file storage room, and getting lost in the shield base
***
Lissandra remains quiet at this point. She's taking deep breaths now that the debriefing portion of the meeting seems to be over while keeping her attention focused on Director Carter. She does offer at one point, "We wouldn't have to use SHIELD resources if we did take actions, Director. My labs in Maryland and New Orleans hold tech and resources that haven't made it onto official inventory." Yes, she's kept things back from even SHIELD. No, she won't apologize. There are things she can build that even she won't use. "And there's always those new quinjets that have completed their production run but haven't been distributed yet."
***
Peggy hates this, clearly. She continues the slow pacing, letting Steve get out what he needs to say. All she says to him in response is a clipped, "Dismissed, Captain." Apparently, he's keeping his rank. Or was it technically a part of his code name? Either way, she's then looking back to the group. Her eyes narrow thoughtfully at Lissandra, a hint of disapproval crossing her face as she does realize the woman has been keeping resources from them. "…While I cannot condone you keeping things from us, I'll selfishly take advantage of the chance. All trace of this meeting is going to be erased from the databases when we leave here." She'll be certain of it. "Lissandra, I expect you to file a formal report with out this. But, as of today, I want you three to begin work on a anti-Sentinel initiative. Anthony, whatever technology you are willing to lend outside of SHIELD's purview, do so. Do *not* use any pieces which SHIELD has commissioned. Lissandra, I want you to head up this project from your labs in Maryland. Mark one of those Quinjets permanently down and take it for private use to get you and the others back and forth as needed. I want an off the books response team together as quickly as possible. If… if you are willing, that is. You understand we'll all lose our jobs and could be accused of capital crimes including treason, if this gets out."
***
Natasha raised her right hand. "Director." She said and should Peggy look her way she'd lift her dart gun up off of her black-suit covered lap. "I'm not sure how much good this is going to do against an army of robots that I fully intend on dismantling and turning into useful creations, such as ramps for the elderly and disabled… or robot-dog-wlaking machines." She showed Peggy a little grin then. It was clear that Natasha understood and did not seem to care… she just wanted her guns back. "Does killing robots count as killing?" She looked over at Tony then and smiled a little at him. "That kinda sounded deep."
***
Tony looks at Nat, "She needs to see the video when I once hacked a group of sentinels and made them dance in a line or I made them like the stooges." he smirks a little, "wait.. did someone steal all your toys?"
***
Lissandra shrugs slightly with no real sign of attrition when Peggy drills her with a look for holding aspects of her technology away from SHIELD. "There are things down there, as well as up here," she taps the side of her head, "that really no one should have access to for centuries if ever." Then she perks up as she's given direct non-order orders to start working against the sentinels. "I'll have the Maryland labs warmed up by morning, and won't have any trouble setting aside a few quinjets as needed. And I can have my official report regarding yesterday filed as soon as this never-was meeting is over." Then Tony talks about hacking sentinels to do line dancing and she just grins. "Wish I'd been awake to see that. Don't suppose you've got any sentinel parts hidden away that I could play with?"
***
"I've read the report." Peggy dead pans about Tony's videos. "You all have your orders… We'll…get coffee on Tuesdays somewhere in the city to discuss this further. Look for a social invitation. I expect to see you all there next week." So, that is how reports will be given off the books. Coffee dates. With that, Peggy dismisses the group, she settling down to cut into the SHIELD logs and erase all record of this conversation.